Dark Hydraulic Fluid on a Kubota M5 @ 315 hours?

[In.the.Piñons]

I bought this tractor (2021) used, about 1 year ago with 175 hours on it.

Today I was adding some rear remotes and had to undo hoses connecting to the power beyond port on the tractor.

This fluid looks way too dark for 315 hours, right? The oil smells fine... should I be worried? The manual calls for a filter change at 500 hours, but I guess I should change the oil and filter ASAP, right?

 

[nybirdman]

Change it out for sure,should'nt be that dark.Make sure to use the Kubota fluids.Who knows what the previous owner used.
Some don't like the price of Kubota fluids but for the average person's use it pays to be safe.
I have owned Kubotas for 20+years.I add the JD dye so I can see it(it is dead clear).

 

[In.the.Piñons]

Change it out for sure,should'nt be that dark.Make sure to use the Kubota fluids.Who knows what the previous owner used.
Some don't like the price of Kubota fluids but for the average person's use it pays to be safe.
I have owned Kubotas for 20+years.I add the JD dye so I can see it(it is dead clear).

I'll change it out today. Two filters and 15gal of UDT2 is about $700 from my local dealer. Ouch!

The manual calls for filter changes at 500 hours and fluid at 1000 hours. Which begs the question what the hell is going on that my tractor has such dirty hydraulic oil @ only 300 hours!?

Good idea on the dye. The fluid is so clear it's hard to read the level on the dip stick.

 

[nybirdman]

The previous owner may have had it hooked up to a contaminated(or non compatible) system.I.E. anything with a cylinder .
At least now you will know it's the proper fluid.I know it is expensive but for me only a change maybe every three years.

 

[In.the.Piñons]

Got it done today. Very easy job as the M5 has enough clearance for 5 gal buckets. I was not looking forward to pouring three (heavy!) five gal buckets of oil back into the tractor, but the oil is so thin it pours quickly and I was able to put my foot on the 3pt and rest the buckets on my leg as I poured.

Pouring the oil out of the buckets with the spout at 12 o'clock (which is IMHO counter intuitive) eliminates all the gluging that happens when you pour at 6 o'clock. I read about that tip a long time ago, but this is the first time I thought to use it.

Also, there was almost no metal on the magnetic rings, which was a relief.

 

[dougtrr2]

Maybe the previous owner used some home brewed concoction to dye the fluid.

Doug in SW IA

 

[Chanceywd]

Got it done today. Very easy job as the M5 has enough clearance for 5 gal buckets. I was not looking forward to pouring three (heavy!) five gal buckets of oil back into the tractor, but the oil is so thin it pours quickly and I was able to put my foot on the 3pt and rest the buckets on my leg as I poured.

Pouring the oil out of the buckets with the spout at 12 o'clock (which is IMHO counter intuitive) eliminates all the gluging that happens when you pour at 6 o'clock. I read about that tip a long time ago, but this is the first time I thought to use it.

Also, there was almost no metal on the magnetic rings, which was a relief.

I was taught that trick back in the late 70's by a salesman.
I have shared it may times, one with a very bullheaded guy I worked with.
He dismissed it outright until he see me do it changing the oil on air compressors.
Some people just want to dismiss anything that makes them less than the smartest in the room.
Another trick I knew was when wiring plugs and connectors on cords the if you put it on the right end you don't have to cross wires. We had some 7 conductor wires with military connectors on pressure transducers. You had to solder all the ends. John was doing one and he said he wished they would put the colored wires in the same the time. I said nicely that they do, you are putting the connectors on the wrong ends. it angered him until I showed him.
There is a rule about it that you have the cord so you can read the writing on it the male always goes on the right and female on the left or at least it worked in my experience.

Bill